The Department of Homeland Security has turned to a Department of Government Efficiency team member as its next chief information officer, sources familiar with the plans told Federal News Network.

DOGE affiliate Kyle Schutt has been named acting DHS CIO. Schutt has been working in various roles across DHS and other agencies as a DOGE team member since early 2025.

In a Thursday email sent to DHS management directorate staff and obtained by Federal News Network, Under Secretary for Management Brian Cavanaugh confirmed the planned departure of current CIO Antoine McCord and the appointment of Schutt as acting CIO.

Cavanaugh wrote that Schutt’s first day will be Aug. 31. Like McCord, he will also serve as director of DHS’s Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM).

“Kyle brings deep expertise, sound judgment, and a strong understanding of the department’s operational and technology priorities,” Cavanaugh wrote. “I am grateful for his willingness to step into this important role and am confident in his leadership as OCIO and OBIM continue their critical work to modernize DHS systems and deliver resilient technology solutions across the enterprise.”

Schutt is a software engineer who previously worked as chief technology officer at the online fundraising platform Revv. He also developed the GOP online fundraising platform WinRed, according to his now-deleted LinkedIn.

Since joining DOGE in early 2025, Schutt has spent much of his time at DHS, having been detailed to both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, according to multiple media reports.

With DOGE, Schutt was involved in collecting data used to terminate grants and make other spending decision at FEMA, according to depositions in a lawsuit challenging FEMA staffing cuts.

Earlier this month, Wired reported that a startup owned by Schutt was a DHS subcontractor while he served at DOGE as a senior advisor at the department. The outlet reported that Schutt’s startup was paying FEMA’s “shadow administrator” at the time.

While Schutt’s DOGE work has drawn scrutiny, a former DHS official said their experience working with him was “positive.”

“He’s smart and knows software and IT systems. He was always polite and professional… It’s an interesting choice, given he doesn’t have much experience in federal, but he broadly gained access to a lot of stuff in all his roles across DHS,” the former official said.

DHS did not respond to a request for comment on Schutt’s planned appointment. A spokesperson previously told Federal News Network regarding McCord’s departure that, “The department does not comment on personnel matters.”

The DHS CIO is an influential position, sitting at the center of a sprawling department that increasingly relies on technology and data. The CIO’s office works on technology needs for DHS components ranging from CISA and FEMA to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Coast Guard. DHS’s annual IT spending has totaled roughly $10 billion in recent years. 

McCord had served as DHS CIO since March 2025. FedScoop first reported on his planned departure.

In his email, Cavanaugh wrote that McCord “made a lasting impact on the department by bringing a powerful strategic vision to the organization.”

“He consistently challenged us to think differently about our approach to systems and technology, leaving a legacy of innovation that will guide the department moving forward,” Cavanaugh wrote.

During his time as CIO, McCord kept a low profile, eschewing media interviews and appearances on the public sector conference circuit. But Cavanaugh and a former DHS official said he led big changes as the department’s CIO.

McCord reorganized the DHS CIO’s office itself, while also seeking to consolidate enterprise IT contracting across the department. In recent months, DHS has awarded enterprise contracts to consolidate spending in areas like commercial cloud services and data and analytics services.

The former official said McCord also increased the influence of the DHS CIO in selecting component CIO’s across the department.

Cavanaugh said McCord also consolidated OBIM and established a “DHS data fabric.”

“He also established enterprise technology and software acquisition structures to enable component modernization at speed and scale,” he said. “He advanced first-of-its-kind enterprise AI deployments to streamline and automate department processes and personally took on any challenge that found its way to OCIO, including ensuring continuity of government communications remained resilient and reliable for department leadership.”

With additional reporting by Jason Miller.

Copyright © 2026 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.